Gathering Husbands with a System in a Game Like World [BL]
Chapter 9: A Strange Ring.

Chapter 9: A Strange Ring.

Kai crossed the busy street. His gaze never left the tiny roadside stall. Compared to the colorful shops around it, the stall looked painfully ordinary. Its wooden sign had faded with age. Several shelves leaned slightly to one side. Most of the items on display were covered in a thin layer of dust. Old daggers. There were damaged gemstones, Rusted armor pieces, Broken magic lamps. To everyone else it was a shop filled with junk.

Yet Kai’s Arcane Eye refused to look anywhere else. The golden aura surrounding a small item hidden in one corner grew brighter with every step he took. The system spoke.

[World Artifact detected. Probability of discovery by ordinary individuals: 0.0003%.]

Kai forced himself to remain calm. A World Artifact? Something this valuable is sitting in a roadside stall? He resisted the urge to rush toward it. Instead he casually examined the other goods first.

A rusty dagger.

[Iron Dagger. Durability: 8%. Recommended Use: Scrap Metal.]

A broken necklace.

[Minor Mana Necklace. Mana Core Destroyed. Repair Cost exceeds Item Value.]

An old spellbook.

[Beginner Fire Magic. Missing Pages: 14. Market Value: 2 Silver Coins.]

Kai nodded thoughtfully as though he were simply browsing. Only then did he slowly make his way toward the corner where the item rested. It was surprisingly plain black ring, it had no jewels no engravings and no traces of mana that an ordinary mage could sense. If not for Arcane Eye he would have walked right past it.

"Found something interesting?"

A deep, raspy voice interrupted Kai’s thoughts. Behind the counter sat an elderly dwarf. His beard reached almost to the floor. Round spectacles rested on the tip of his nose. Despite his age his amber eyes remained lively.

Kai smiled politely.

"I was just looking around."

The dwarf chuckled.

"Young people usually don’t stop at my stall. They prefer shiny weapons and expensive enchantments."

He gestured toward the neighboring stores.

"I sell Antiques."

Kai glanced around again. Well? Obviously he does?

"I can see that."

The old dwarf laughed heartily.

"Honest too. I like you already."

Kai picked up the black ring between his fingers. It felt unusually cool. The golden aura remained visible only to him.

"What about this one?"

The dwarf scratched his beard.

"Ah... That old thing. You’ve got good eyes."

Kai raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

The dwarf leaned back in his chair.

"Because that’s the only item nobody has ever bought."

Kai pretended to inspect the ring carefully.

"It doesn’t look very special."

"It isn’t. At least that’s what everyone keeps telling me."

The dwarf folded his arms.

"I found it nearly thirty years ago."

Kai looked up.

"You found it?"

The old man nodded.

"There used to be an abandoned ruin o fa Demon Lord’s abode several days north of the capital. I explored it when I was younger. My companions found enchanted weapons. Ancient spell scrolls. Rare ores."

He pointed toward the ring.

"And I found this."

Kai listened quietly.

"I thought I’d struck gold. I took it to master blacksmiths. They said it was ordinary. I visited court magicians. They couldn’t sense any magic. I even paid a famous appraiser from another kingdom."

The old dwarf laughed at himself.

"He told me I had spent good money examining a worthless piece of metal."

Kai lowered his gaze to the ring. *No wonder. Without Arcane Eye no one could recognize its true value.*

The dwarf sighed.

"I’ve tried selling it for decades. No one wants it. At this point it’s more decoration than merchandise."

Kai smiled inwardly. *Sometimes the greatest treasures hide in the plainest places.*

Kai turned the ring over in his hand.

"I like it."

The old dwarf blinked.

"You do?"

"It has a simple design. And it reminds me that appearances can be deceiving."

The dwarf chuckled.

"I’ve never heard anyone compliment that ring before."

Kai looked at him.

"How much?"

The old merchant shrugged.

"Hmm... Five silver coins."

Kai almost laughed. *A World Artifact for five silver.* He quickly stopped himself from reacting. Instead he nodded naturally.

"Fair price."

He reached into the leather pouch Edmund had given him that morning. Carefully counting the coins, he placed five silver pieces onto the counter. The old dwarf stared at them for a moment. Then at Kai.

"You didn’t even bargain."

Kai smiled.

"You gave me an honest price. I have no reason to lower it."

For a second the old dwarf seemed genuinely touched. Most customers haggled endlessly. Some even mocked his little stall. Yet this young man had simply trusted his words. The dwarf accepted the coins with a grateful smile.

"Thank you, young master. I hope that old ring brings you better luck than it ever brought me."

Kai slipped the black ring onto the ring finger of his right hand. For a heartbeat nothing happened. Then a faint warmth spread through the metal. Kai’s steps halted. The warmth rapidly intensified. The plain black surface began glowing from within. Tiny silver runes emerged one after another, circling the ring like living streams of light. His eyes widened.

The surrounding crowd continued walking as though nothing had happened. No one reacted. No one stared. It was as if only Kai could see the phenomenon. The system’s voice echoed inside his mind.

[World Artifact synchronization initiated...]

[Compatibility confirmed.]

[Recognizing new master...]

The silver light suddenly became blinding. Kai instinctively covered his eyes. A calm, ancient voice resonated from somewhere beyond time itself.

[Identity Confirmed. New Master Accepted.]

The ring began to disappear. Kai instinctively reached for his hand.

"What?"

The black ring dissolved into countless strands of silver light. Instead of falling to the ground the light wrapped itself around his right ring finger. One strand. Then another. Until a beautiful circular pattern resembling an ancient magic seal appeared on his skin. It looked like a tattoo crafted from liquid silver. Then it faded beneath his flesh. The ring was gone.

Kai stared at his hand.

"Did I just lose it?"

The elderly dwarf blinked.

"Lose what?"

"The ring."

The old merchant frowned.

"What ring?"

Kai froze.

"You just sold it to me."

The dwarf scratched his beard.

"I did?"

His eyes drifted toward the now-empty corner of the stall.

"That’s strange. I don’t even remember placing it there."

Kai immediately realized something was wrong. The ring had not simply disappeared. It had erased its own existence from the memories of everyone except its new owner. The system spoke.

[Synchronization Complete. Memory Concealment Function Activated. World Artifact now exists exclusively under Host Authority.]

Kai quietly lowered his hand. *An artifact capable of altering memories. Just what have I obtained?* He bowed politely to the old dwarf.

"Thank you."

The merchant smiled warmly.

"Come back if you ever need more forgotten treasures."

Kai nodded before leaving the stall.

Once he had reached a quiet park several streets away, Kai stopped beneath a large oak tree. Children played nearby. Birds chirped peacefully overhead. It was the perfect place to investigate without attracting attention. The moment he focused on his right hand the silver magic circle reappeared. Arcane Eye activated automatically. A brilliant golden information window unfolded before him.

[World Artifact]

[Ring of Infinite Storage]

[Current Rank: Dormant]

[Compatibility: 100%]

[Current Capacity: 100 Cubic Meters]

[Growth Type: Evolvable]

[Owner: Kai Valerius]

[Recognition Status: Absolute]

[Hidden Functions: Locked]

[Authority Required: Insufficient]

Kai’s mouth slowly fell open.

"One hundred cubic meters?"

His travel bag suddenly seemed insignificant. The system calmly explained.

[The Ring of Infinite Storage is a World Artifact capable of evolving alongside its owner. Current abilities represent less than one percent of its complete potential.]

Kai laughed nervously.

"Less than one percent? What exactly does it become at one hundred percent?"

Silence.

A second later—

[Host Authority Insufficient.]

Kai sighed.

"You really enjoy saying that."

The system remained perfectly silent.

Kai decided to test it. He removed his travel bag from his shoulder.

"Let’s see..."

He placed his hand over it.

"Store."

The bag vanished Not slowly or dramatically. It simply disappeared. Kai blinked.

"That worked?"

He immediately looked around. Nobody seemed to notice. The children continued playing. An elderly couple walked past chatting happily. To everyone else nothing unusual had happened. Kai grinned.

"Retrieve."

A flash of silver light. The travel bag instantly reappeared in his hand. His smile widened. He repeated the process. Store. Retrieve. Store. Retrieve. Again. And again. By the fifth attempt he could not stop laughing.

"This is amazing!"

The system finally commented.

[Host’s emotional age currently resembles that of a child.]

Kai shrugged unapologetically.

"Can you blame me? I’ve wanted an inventory like this since I started playing RPGs."

He began experimenting further. A fallen branch. Store. A loose stone. Store. Retrieve. Everything responded instantly. No delay. No effort. Only a simple thought.

"This is ridiculously convenient."

"That’s quite an unusual magic."

A gentle voice suddenly spoke behind him. Kai’s smile disappeared. He turned immediately. Standing a few meters away was a young man carrying a leather satchel filled with herbs. Long emerald-green hair was tied neatly behind his back. His refined features carried a quiet elegance, while a pair of golden-green eyes regarded Kai with open curiosity. His pointed ears marked him unmistakably. A half-elf. Kai recognized him instantly. Lucien Ashcroft.

Lucien raised both hands slightly.

"My apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you. I was gathering medicinal herbs nearby."

He gestured toward several freshly picked plants inside his satchel.

"I happened to notice someone repeatedly making a travel bag disappear."

Kai laughed awkwardly.

"I suppose that would attract attention."

Lucien smiled faintly.

"It did."

There was no hostility in his voice. Only curiosity. He stepped closer and offered a polite bow.

"My name is Lucien Ashcroft. I am an alchemist."

Kai returned the gesture.

"Kai Valerius."

Lucien’s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly.

"So you’re the young noble who stopped the traffickers earlier."

Kai rubbed the back of his neck.

"News travels fast."

"The City Guards were talking about it."

Lucien looked at Kai for a long moment. Then his gaze drifted toward a small purple flower growing near the tree.

"You avoided stepping on those."

Kai followed his gaze.

"The Moon Dew Blossoms?"

Lucien blinked.

"You know them? They’re difficult to cultivate. The petals lose their medicinal value if bruised."

Lucien’s interest deepened.

"Most people mistake them for ordinary weeds."

Kai smiled inwardly. His knowledge came from years of playing Eternal Genesis, where Moon Dew Blossoms were common ingredients for high-grade healing potions.

"I’ve read a little."

Lucien chuckled softly.

"I think you’re being modest."

The two continued talking as they walked through the park. Their conversation flowed surprisingly naturally. Medicinal herbs. Ancient ruins. Alchemy. The geography of the Empire. Kai answered carefully, never revealing that his knowledge came from another life. The more they spoke the more impressed Lucien became.

A familiar notification appeared before Kai.

[SSS-Rank Husband Candidate: Lucien Ashcroft]

[Affinity Increased: 5% → 8%]

[Reason: Enjoyable conversation and shared intellectual interests.]

Kai smiled inwardly.

Eventually Lucien adjusted the strap of his satchel.

"I should return before sunset."

Kai nodded.

"And I have somewhere to be as well."

Lucien offered a warm smile.

"I hope our paths cross again, Kai. I have a feeling they will."

Kai watched as the half-elf disappeared into the bustling streets. Neither of them realized their next meeting would take place at the Imperial Academy.

The moment Lucien disappeared from sight the system spoke. Its voice was different. Lower. More solemn.

[Synchronization with World Artifact complete. Hidden Records detected.]

Kai frowned.

"Hidden records?"

A brief silence followed. Longer than usual. Finally the system answered.

[Host Authority currently insufficient. Access denied.]

Kai narrowed his eyes.

"So the ring knows something."

No reply.

"And you know what it is."

Silence.

"For the first time I think you’re hiding something from me."

The system gave only one final response.

[Please continue growing stronger. The truth will reveal itself when the Host possesses sufficient authority.]

Kai looked down at the silver mark on his finger. Between the mysterious system, the World Artifact, and the ten husbands he had yet to meet, he was beginning to realize something. This world was far bigger than the game he remembered.